By: Uday Mohan
December 11, 2025
For decades, Volvo ownership carried a certain stereotype. You know the ones: the boxy wagon parked outside a faculty office, the car of cautious suburban parents, the rolling embodiment of “safe but boring.” Owning a Volvo was supposed to signal practicality over passion, restraint over flair, and a preference for safety manuals over style magazines. The punchline was always the same. Volvo drivers were responsible, but never exciting.
The 2026 Volvo XC90 T8 Plug-in Hybrid obliterates those clichés with a blend of Scandinavian design, modern technology, and a confident presence that makes it as aspirational as it is practical. This isn’t your professor’s wagon or your neighbour’s beige commuter. It’s a flagship SUV that redefines what it means to drive a Volvo in Canada today.
Step back and look at the XC90’s exterior, and you’ll see just how far Volvo has moved from its boxy past. The Thor’s Hammer LED headlights, crisp body lines, and upright yet elegant proportions give the SUV a commanding stance. It’s unmistakably Scandinavian in its minimalism, but never plain, and still undeniably Volvo. The brand’s “room for everyone, ready for anything” ethos is baked into the design. Whether you choose the six-seat or seven-seat configuration, the XC90 projects sophistication in all the right ways.
Inside, the cabin strikes a rare balance between restraint and luxury. Natural materials like open-pore wood, tailored leather, and metal accents create an atmosphere closer to a boutique hotel than a family hauler. The panoramic roof floods the interior with light, reinforcing Volvo’s design philosophy of connecting occupants to the world outside. This is not the austere, utilitarian Volvo of old. It’s a sanctuary, and one we genuinely didn’t want to leave during our time with it.
Volvo has long been synonymous with safety, but the XC90 PHEV reframes that reputation. Safety is no longer the headline. It’s the foundation. What stands out now is how seamlessly Volvo integrates digital services powered by Google. The infotainment system runs Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play, making navigation and connectivity intuitive and familiar. No fumbling with clunky menus or laggy screens. The XC90 feels every bit as modern as its premium competitors.
Driver assistance features are equally polished. Adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping support, and collision avoidance systems operate quietly in the background. When they do step in, the intervention is subtle, noticeable enough to grab your attention without ever feeling intrusive. The stereotype of Volvo as “the safe choice” still holds true, but now it’s paired with convenience, confidence, and luxury that make safety feel aspirational rather than obligatory.
One of the enduring clichés about Volvo drivers was that they sacrificed excitement for practicality. The XC90 PHEV flips that script. Comfort here doesn’t mean compromise, it means indulgence. Seating across all three rows is genuinely spacious, with thoughtful touches like integrated booster seats that make family life easier. Cargo space is generous whether you’re hauling hockey gear, camping equipment, or a full grocery run, all while still delivering enough power to keep things interesting on the drive there and back.
For me, the real revelation in the 2026 Volvo XC90 PHEV is its audio system. This isn’t just a premium stereo, it’s a concert hall on wheels. Volvo’s partnership with Bowers & Wilkins delivers a soundstage so immersive that every drive feels like a private performance.
The clarity is outstanding. Vocals float through the cabin, bass hits with authority without distortion, and multiple sound modes let you tailor the experience to your mood. Whether you’re recreating the intimacy of a jazz club or the scale of a symphony hall, the XC90 turns music into an event. It’s also the only vehicle I’ve tested this year that includes a full demo and experience section within the infotainment, allowing you to properly explore what Bowers & Wilkins brings to the table. It’s genuinely sublime.
This became the highlight of the XC90 for me. It’s the kind of feature that makes you sit in the driveway a little longer, unwilling to shut the car off because the music sounds that good. The cautious, practical Volvo driver of the past wasn’t supposed to care about sonic indulgence. Yet here we are, with a flagship SUV that makes audio artistry part of its identity. It’s proof that Volvo isn’t just building safe cars anymore. It’s building experiences.
So why don’t the old stereotypes apply? Because the XC90 PHEV represents a broader shift for the brand. Volvo is no longer a quirky outsider. It’s a legitimate luxury contender. In a market where premium SUVs dominate suburban driveways, the XC90 stands shoulder to shoulder with its German rivals while maintaining a distinctly Scandinavian identity. It doesn’t chase BMW’s aggression or Audi’s tech-heavy flash. Instead, it offers a calmer, more confident form of luxury.
Owning a Volvo today signals taste, not timidity. It suggests an appreciation for design, technology, and sustainability without giving up comfort or presence. The XC90 PHEV shows just how far Volvo has moved beyond its boxy caricature and into a new era that feels stylish, modern, and genuinely desirable.
Volvo has always been about safety. Now, it’s about style, technology, and sustainability too. The XC90 PHEV isn’t a vehicle you choose simply because it’s sensible. It’s one you choose because you want it. And that, more than anything, proves the stereotypes are finally dead.
Vehicle Specs
Segment: Luxury Full Size SUV
Engine: Turbocharged inline-four with electric boost
Horsepower: 455 horsepower (combined)
Torque: 523 lb-ft. (combined)
Battery size: 18.8kWh (14.7kWh usable)
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Fuel economy (city/hwy/combined): 9.1L/8.6L/8.9L/100km
Observed fuel economy: 9.8L/100km
Price as tested: $102,875 CAD